Employees in Romania pay CASS at 10% of salary and are automatically insured in the CNAS public system.
Per ANAF's 2026 calculation: 10% of six minimum wages. File a declaration and cover runs 12 months.
Police, fire and ambulance, free from any phone. Under Law 95/2006, urgent care is given to everyone, insured or not.
EU citizens on a temporary stay are covered by the EHIC. Israelis and other non-EU nationals need travel or private insurance.
A private network subscription gives fast access to doctors but usually does not cover hospitalisation. That needs insurance.
How does healthcare in Romania work for residents from abroad?
Romania has a public health system run by the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) and funded by a 10% health contribution (CASS), alongside a large private sector led in Bucharest by networks such as Regina Maria, MedLife, Sanador and Medicover. In an emergency you call 112, and under Law 95/2006 urgent medical care is provided to everyone, insured or not. Most families from abroad combine the two: public or private insurance as the base, and a private clinic subscription for routine care.
This is one of the first questions I get from families with children or elderly parents: "What happens if someone gets sick?" The answer depends on one thing: your status in Romania.
Two systems: public and private
The public system (CNAS)
The National Health Insurance House (CNAS) funds treatment in public hospitals, with family doctors and at clinics contracted with the fund. The gateway is the family doctor: you register with one, and they refer you to specialists and tests.
Employees in Romania pay CASS at 10% of their salary and are insured automatically. People with no income in Romania can join voluntarily.
The private system
Bucharest has large private networks of clinics, hospitals and labs, including Regina Maria and MedLife. Many private clinics also hold a CNAS contract, so some of their services are publicly funded.
An important distinction: a private clinic subscription (abonament) is not insurance. It gives fast access to doctors and tests, but usually does not cover hospitalisation. For inpatient care and serious cases you need public insurance or a private health insurance policy.
Medicines and pharmacies
Pharmacies are on almost every street in Bucharest, and some are open around the clock. Some prescription medicines are partly paid by the public system under CNAS's list of subsidised medicines ("medicamente compensate"), provided you are insured and the prescription is issued within the system. Since August 2025 medicines carry a reduced 11% VAT rate. If you take a regular medication, check in advance whether it is available in Romania and under which brand name.
What public health insurance in Romania costs
For people with no income in Romania, public insurance in 2026 costs about 2,430 lei a year. According to the calculation of ANAF, the Romanian tax authority, that is 10% on a base of six minimum wages (4,050 lei each, the wage in force at the start of the year). You file a declaration with ANAF, and coverage runs for 12 months from filing. It can be paid in two instalments.
| Situation | How you are insured |
|---|---|
| Employees in Romania | CASS at 10% of salary, automatic cover |
| No income in Romania | Voluntary enrolment via ANAF, about 2,430 lei a year in 2026 |
| EU citizens on a temporary stay | The EHIC from their home country |
| Visitors from outside the EU | Travel insurance or private health insurance |
EU citizens, Israelis and residence permit applicants
EU citizens on a temporary stay can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for necessary care in the public system, on the same terms as locals. Anyone moving to live in Romania needs to arrange cover here.
The answer depends on one thing: your status in Romania.
Israelis and other non-EU citizens are not covered by the EHIC. For visits, travel insurance is a practical must. Anyone applying for a residence permit must, under the law on foreigners, OUG 194/2002, show proof of health insurance among other documents. The process itself is covered in our guide to the residence permit in Romania.
Emergencies: 112 and what you are entitled to
The single number for all emergency services in Romania, police, fire and ambulance, is 112, and it is free from any phone. The emergency services also include SMURD, the mobile emergency and resuscitation service.
Under Law 95/2006 on healthcare reform, urgent medical care is provided to everyone, insured or not. Once the emergency is handled, follow-up treatment may be charged if you have no insurance, so arrange cover in advance.
Five steps to sort out health cover when you move
- Check your status: employee, self-employed, no income in Romania, or EU citizen. Your insurance follows from it.
- Arrange base cover: CASS through work or voluntary enrolment, or a private policy that covers hospitalisation.
- Register with a family doctor: it is the gateway to the public system.
- Consider a private clinic subscription: for fast access to routine care, paediatrics and tests.
- Keep translated medical records: discharge summaries, regular medications and vaccinations, in English or Romanian.
Where this meets your choice of home
In Bucharest, private clinics and hospitals are widely available in the city and its north. When you choose a neighbourhood, check how long it takes to reach the nearest clinic and emergency room at rush hour, not only at night. The other costs of moving are in our guide to the cost of living in Bucharest, and the full picture in our relocation guide to Romania.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners join Romania's public health insurance?
Yes. Employees in Romania are insured through the CASS deducted from their salary. People with no income in Romania can join voluntarily by filing a declaration with ANAF and paying about 2,430 lei a year in 2026.
What is the difference between a private clinic subscription and health insurance?
A subscription (abonament) with networks such as Regina Maria or MedLife gives fast access to doctors and tests but usually does not cover hospitalisation. Public insurance or a private policy also covers serious cases.
What do you do in a medical emergency in Romania?
Call 112, the single number for all emergency services, free from any phone. Under Law 95/2006, urgent medical care is provided to everyone, even without insurance.
Is the EHIC valid in Romania?
Yes, for EU citizens on a temporary stay, for necessary care in the public system. Israelis and other non-EU citizens are not covered and need travel insurance or private insurance.
Do you need health insurance to get a residence permit in Romania?
Yes. Under OUG 194/2002, the law on foreigners, proof of health insurance is one of the documents required when applying for and renewing a residence permit.
The bottom line
Healthcare in Romania works in two layers: public through CNAS, and private, which is especially strong in Bucharest. The families who feel safest are those who arranged cover that includes hospitalisation in advance, and registered with a family doctor before they needed one.
If you are planning a move and want to choose a neighbourhood close to what matters to you, including clinics and schools, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the map together.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: National Health Insurance House (CNAS) · ANAF · European Commission, EHIC · Law 95/2006 and OUG 194/2002, Romanian legislation portal · Regina Maria · MedLife
This article is for general information only and is not medical, legal or insurance advice. Coverage terms and fees change; check details with CNAS, ANAF and your insurer before deciding.
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This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
